City Council Meeting Recap – December 3, 2024

At its regular meeting on Tues., Dec. 3, 2024, Scranton City Council:

1. Adopted an ordinance that will allow the Scranton Police Department to conduct an arrest without a warrant when there is conduct that imperils the personal security of any person or endangers public or private property. Offenses will include disorderly conduct; public drunkenness; obstructing highways and other public passages; and the purchase, consumption, possession, or transportation of a malt liquor or brewed beverage. The ordinance was adopted by a vote of 5-0.
2. Adopted an ordinance amending the street openings and excavations code to calculate pave cut inspection fees by time and mileage required, rather than by area. The ordinance was adopted by a vote of 5-0.
3. Adopted a resolution to enter into a contract with Midlantic Engineering, Inc., to perform pave cut inspections. The one-year contract has two optional one-year renewals. There is no cost to the City, and all costs will be reimbursed by persons performing pave cuts. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 4-1, with Councilmembers Gerald Smurl, Mark McAndrew, William F. King, and Dr. Jessica Rothchild in favor, and with Councilmember Thomas Schuster opposed.
4. Adopted a resolution to enter into a $3,266,831.60 contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc., for five years for the purchase of hardware, software, and related services to expand on and integrate other Axon products already used by the City. The City received a $3 million grant from the Department of Justice for upgrades to technology and training that support this contract. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5-0.
5. Adopted a resolution to submit a Local Share Account (LSA) Statewide grant for $346,000 on behalf of the Scranton Cultural Center for an HVAC renovation project. The project is one part of a larger $1.2 million heating and air conditioning system project to replace old cast iron and vacuum systems. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5-0.
6. Adopted as amended an ordinance containing the 2025 general city operating budget. Amendments are as follows:
   1. Increasing the City Clerk and City Council line item for professional services by $12,500 from $125,000 to $137,500.
   2. Increasing the Human Resources line item for professional services by $7,500 from $878,000 to $885,500.
   3. Decreasing the Human Resources line item for liability and casualty insurance by $10,000 from $2,650,000 to $2,640,000.
   4. Decreasing the Business Administration line item for workers’ compensation by $10,000 from $3,900,000 to $3,890,000.

Council adopted the budget as amended by a vote of 5-0.

City Council Meeting Recap – December 3, 2024

Last modified: February 19, 2025